A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1533-1674
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(Unreuly,) Unreulie, -ruly, adj. Also: unrewl(l)y, -ie, -rulie. [Late ME and e.m.E. unruely (1400), unruliest superl. (1439), vnruly (a 1533), vnrulie (1565).] Not amenable to rule or discipline; disorderly, unmanageable: a. Of persons, their emotions, etc. Cf. Wanreullie adj. b. Of animals.a. 1533 Boece 383a.
Hub exhortit his folkis contene thame … bot the vnrewlly hoist, with clamoure and rippet … ruschit fra the palȝouns 1593 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I 395.
We … beseik thi Maiestie to richt oure vnrewlie affectiouns 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 865.
Idle vnrulie anes without calling, drunkards, and sicklyke deboshit men 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 119.
Unrewlie people who professit thair unlauchfull intentioun to tak him perforce furth thairof [sc. out of prison] 1637 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 127.
Dutifull respect to his Maiesties … lawis … he will ever prefer to his awne vnreulie passions 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 467.
Yet Christ, beside this unruly and misnurtured neighbour, can still be making heaven in the saints 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X 183.
The Secret Councills order against the unrewllie fanatick womenb. 1558-66 Knox I 242.
A croune [was] putt upone hir head, als seimlye a sight … as to putt a sadill upoun the back of ane unrewly kow 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 82 (Table).
Ane vnrewlie or head strong horse
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"Unreuly adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unreuly>
